Disk gang assembly



Feb. 3, 1942.

T. M. THOMAS E'I'AL DISK GANG ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 5/1941 INVENTORS. Thomas M. Thomas Edwm E WadeHon,

e Patented Feb. 3, 1942 k '15 2 272 106" p DISKIGANG Assemnpv w J Thomas M, Thomas, Huntingtp Wadelton, Los Angeles, and

Huntington Park, (lalif assi Manufacturing Corporation, I;

v 'a corporatione of California Application February a, 1941; se

7 Claims. (cr sis-fan)":

The present invention relatesgenerallyto disk gang assemblies and more particularly tothe means for mounting disk blades in the frame of a disk harrow or, other implement, so thatgthedisks are supported on a tubularshaft journaled on a fixed shaft or axlesecured tonthe frame I structure, A l I The principal object of this invention relates to the provision of an improved form of mounting for ground workingdisks on a' fixed axleor shaftasecured to the implement frame, whereby the disks are supported on a rotatable-tubejournaled on the axle, the ends being sealed to provide a lubricant-containing, dust-proof housing which is of simple construction and permits exceptionally free rotation of the ground working disks. 1 1

A related object of this invention has to do with the further provision of a simplified 'thrust bearing, which not only resists the thrust ofrthe disk blades during operation but also prevents axial movement of the disk blades in the opposite direction and prevents the latter from rubbing on the gang frame, and is extremely simple and inexpensive to build; without sacrifice of a strength or durability.

These and other objects and advantages of ourinvention will be apparentaftera consideration of the following description, in which-refe erence is had to the drawing appended hereto, f

in which Figure 1 is a sectional'elevation' taken along the center line of a disk harrow gang, embodying the principles of our invention andshowing-the bearing construction ateach endof thelgang assembly, the central-portion being'broken away for-purposes of simplification; and

Figure 2 isasectional end'view taken along a 1ine2--2 in Figure ,1.

Referring now to the drawing; thefdisk gang assembly comprises a plurality of ground workingfdisks 5 of the conventional 'concavo convex type, rigidly assembled together in a unitary structure and rotatably 'journaled ona relatively stationary axle 6 which is rigidly secured by suitable bolts 1 to a pair of supporting standards,

8 disposed at opopsite ends of the axle 6. The

standards 8 are rigidly interconnected by a gang frame, representedby-the frame memberv 9 but not shown in detail inasmuch as any suitable frame can be used and the details thereoff'are not important in the present disclosure. The

axle 6 isenclosed, except at its ends in a tube- III, the opposite endsi oi whichare journaled on;

' l1; apresse' suitable; bearing material;

structedgwith an internaldiameter appreciably. larger; than the outside-diameter of the axle 6 Q tightly into the ends of th'e tube in; The; sleeves ll :are, preferably of bronze Or other The tube 10 isconand thus providing a space l2 therebetween,

whichnotonly serves to accommodatethe bearing sleeves ll but provides a lubricant retaining reservoir between the two bearingflsleeves ll,,in-, to which space lubricant is supplied througha bore 13; axially disposedat-one end'of the axle 6 and communicating withthe reservoir [2 by means of agpassage? f4.

one of f the standards 8 and isprovided at its outer end with alubricant fitting I8 through whicfhflubricant can be forced to fill the reser- 'voir"l2 I Fixed-at oneend of the tube Hlis a bracket is adapted to receive the square aperture 24 in the end disk 5, and'is further provided with a flange: portion--25, which forms an abutment for the convex side of the end disk 5, The latter is held againstthe flange'25 by means of a spacing spool 26, whi h encircles the tube HI and is-provided atit's opposite end with a flange-21 form 1 ing the abutment for the next disk 5; .The spool 26 is broken away at the center to indicate that any number of disks with'their respective spacing spoolscan be interposed between the two' end disks,; as well-known tov thoseskilled in 'the 'art.

..;The assembly of disks and spools is rigidly clamp 'e'd against the bracket flange 2 5 by means of a gang'nut30,which isthreadedon the opposite end of the tube-IO-andbears against-a gangwasher: 3 l,' whichabut's the concave side of1the- 'disk-5=at that end of the-assembly. After the nut 3ll has been' tightened against the disk assembly, it'is held from unscrewing by means-ofa bolt 32"which isins'erted. through a suitable aperture -'in a'fiange' 33 extending radially-outwardly from-the nut: 311, andthe inner end of the bolt 32 projects into one; of a number of recesses 34 formed in the wasnerel. The latter-is provided with an internal recess 35-of square -,cross sectionadapted to receive a-cooperative square the axle- -6-:by means of suitable bearing sleeves fend flange -36 entire-spool "and" thus theen- A' lubricant supply pipe- I5 is threaded at one end into a passage l6com-. municating withtheaxial bore [3 and extends 'radially outwardly througha drilled hole IT in.

The" bracket 20 is provided with an lar 45 is shrunk or otherwise fixed to the axle 6 and is disposed to fit Within a circular'recess 46 in the end of the bracket 20; is disposed in bearing contact and is connected to the inner with the collar 45 face of the recess A wear plate 41 said frame, a tube enclosing said axl and journaled thereon, a plurality of ground working disks fixed on said tube, a thrust collar rigidly fixed to said axle adjacent one end thereof, means adjacent the end of said tube bearing on the inner face of said collar to transmit the thrust force of said disks against the latter, and a bracket detachably fixed to said tube and bearing against the opposite face of said collar to resist axial movement of said tube in the opposite direction.

3. A disk gang comprising in combination, a

' gang frame, an axle, bracket means at each end 46 in the bracket by suitable pins or keys 48,

which prevents relative rotation between the bracket 20 and the rub plate 41. Thus the end thrust of the gang disks 5 is transmitted through the bumperbracket 20 and the wear plate 41 t0 the face of the thrust collar 45, which, being rigidly fixed to the axle 6, resists the thrust force and .preventsaxial movement of the disk assembly toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1.

, The disk assembly is prevented from moving axially-along the axle 6 to the right, and is thus prevented from rubbing against the supporting standard 8 at the right hand end, by means of atsecond bracket or cover member 50, which is rigidly attached by bolts 5| to the outer portion of (the flange on the bumper bracket 20. The cover bracket 50 is provided with an annular ridge-52, which fits into a recess 53 in the flange portion 25, to center the cover 50 relative to the axle 6. bears against the'side of the thrust collar 45 opposite the wear .platel ll land a number of shims 54 are inserted between the cover 50 and the thrust collar 45 to adjust the amount of end play between the disk gang assembly and the axlefip i 'I Q The thrust bearing is lubricated by lubricant from the housing reservoir [2, which passes between'the bearing sleeve H and the axle 6 and fiows'into thelspace around the thrust collar 45. The lubricant is prevented from leaking out between the two brackets 20 and 50 by means of an annular gasket 56 disposed between the outer edges of the brackets 20, 50 and around the bolts'5l. The lubricant is prevented from leakin fiout of the end of the housin around the axle 6 by means of an annular resilient sealing memberST disposed within a recess 58 in a hub portion 59, formed integral with the cover brack-' et 50. a

We; do not intend our invention to be limited to .theexact'details shown'and described herein, except as specified in the claims which follow.

, We claim: 1

.l. A disk gang comprising in combination, a gang frame, an axle, bracket means at each end of said-axle for rigidly supporting thelatter on said, frame, a tube enclosing said axle and journaled thereon, a plurality of ground working disks fixed on said tube, a thrust collar rigidly fixed to said axle, means on said tube bearing on -one side of said collar totransmit the thrust force; of said disks against the latter, and means fixed to said tube and; bearing against the oppo-v si-te siqle of, said collar to resist axial movement ofsai d't ubein the'oppositedirection.

,disk gang comprising in combination, a

gangifrfame, an axle, bracket means at each end of sesameor rigidly supportin the latter on The inner face of the cover member 50' of said axle for rigidly supporting the latter on said frame, a tube enclosing said axle and journaled thereon, a plurality of ground working disks fixed on said tube, a thrust collar rigidly fixed to said axle adjacent one end thereof, a pair of brackets detachably fixed together embracing the two faces of said collar and rotatable relative thereto, and means for rigidly fixing said brackets to the end of said tube.

4. A "disk gangcomprising, in combination, a gang frame, an axlev rigidl fixed thereto, a tube enclosing said axle and journaled thereon, a thrust collar rigidly fixed to said axle, a first bracket fixed on the end of said tube and adapted to bear against-saidlcollar to transmit thrust force thereagainst, a plurality of disks and spacing spools mounted on said tube and disposed in abutment .with said bracket, means engagin the opposite end of said tube for rigidly clamping said disks and spools against said bracket, and a second bracket detachably fixed to said first bracket and embracing said axl on the opposite sideof said collar from said tube, said second bracket being adapted to bear against said 001- lar to, restrain said tube from axial movement away from said collar.

-5, A disk gang. comprising, in combination, a gang frame, an axle rigidly fixed thereto, a tube enclosing said axle and journaled thereon, a thrust collar rigidly fixed to said axle, a first bracket fixed on the end of said tube and adapted-to bear against said collar to transmit thrust force thereagainst, a plurality of disks and spacing spoolsmounted on said tube and disposed in abutment; with saidbracket, means engagin the oppositeend of said tube for rigidly clamping said disks and spools against said bracket, a second bracket detachably fixed to embracing said axle on the opposite side of said collar from said tube, said second bracket being adapted to bear against said collar to restrain saidtube ;-from axial movement awy from said collar,- means for introducing lubricant between said axle and saidtube, resilient sealin means disposed between saidsecond bracket and said axle, and sealing means between the opposite end of said tube and said axle.

A -disk gang comprising, in combination, a gangframe, an axle rigidly fixed thereto, a tube enclosing said axle and journaled thereon, a thrust; collarrigidly. fixed to said axle, a first bracket-fixed on'theend of said tube and adapted to bear against said collar to transmit thrust force thereagainst, said bracket having a hub portion adapted to receive a disk mounted thereon -and a flange portion/extendin radiall outwardly on-;the convex siderof said disk, serving to tak the axial thrust thereof and transmitting'the-same to-saidcollana plurality of disks andspacingspools mounted on said tube, a gang nut threaded; on thejopposite endof said tube for-clamping said disks and spools against said said first bracket and flange portion of said bracket, and a second bracket detachably fixed to said first bracket and embracing said axle on the opposite side of said collar from said tube, said second. bracket being adapted to bear against said collar to restrain said tube from axial'movement away from said collar.

7. A disk gang comprising, in combination, a gang frame, an axle rigidly fixed thereto, a tube enclosing said axle and journaled thereon, a thrust collar rigidly fixed to bracket fixed on the end of said tube and adapted to bear against said collar to transmit thrust force thereagainst, said bracket having a hub portion adapted to receive a disk mounted thereon and a flange portion extending radially outsaid axle, a firstv wardly on the convex side of said disk, serving to take the axial thrust thereof and transmitting] spacing spools said tube, said second bracket being adapted to to restrain said tube from from said collar, means bear against said collar axial movement away for introducing lubricant between said axle and said tube, resilient sealing means disposed be tween said second bracket and said axle, and

sealing means between the opposite end of said tube and said axle.

THOMAS M. THOMAS.

EDWIN F; WADELTON. OSCAR W. SJOGREN. 

